I’ve been going through a breakup… Although I’m not terrible anymore (aka crying 90% of the time I’m awake, running to the office bathroom constantly to sob, or working from home because I just can’t manage to go to the office and turn up Zoom beautify to 100% so no one can tell I’ve been wailing the last hour) I sometimes still don’t have the energy to cook or buy groceries…
But I know I want to eat healthy because I want to look and feel great. I know I lose weight by eating more fruits and vegetables. And fresh organic wholesome foods make my body feel so much better. I can feel the is a gut-mind connection. And this is when I turned to Splendid Spoon. Splendid Spoon is a plant-based meal delivery service. Their staples are hearty bowls, smoothies, and shots.
This review focuses on the gut health benefits of Splendid Spoon meal delivery. if you'd like to see the full review with costs, where to purchase, and the weight loss from Splendid Spoon, please check out our Splendid Spoon Delivery review post!
Why is Gut Health Important?
I was interested in gut health to boost my mood post-breakup because gut health is helpful to balance your hormones, mental clarity, mood, and digestion. If you have any issues with your gut breaking down food will become difficult as well as absorption of nutrients from the foods you consumed. You probably already know this if you have issues with bloating, gas, or indigestion, or you have trouble going to the restroom or you go too frequently.
What causes an unhealthy gut?
It's unfortunately easy in the modern day to screw up your gut health. Too much alcohol, smoking, antibiotics, not enough prebiotic food, eating a variety of foods, lack of sleep, stress, and lack of exercise can cause your gut bacteria to go haywire. (1) I was definitely been sleepless and lifeless post-breakup…It's sometimes hard to get a diverse range of foods when I buy a bunch of carrots and a head of broccoli I feel like I need to finish that and I don't think I get enough variety of veggies even if I am consuming more vegetables as someone on a plant-based diet.
That's why I turned to do a reset with Splendid Spoon. Splendid Spoon is a ready-to-eat plant-based meal delivery service with fresh organic smoothies, juices, wellness shots, and bowls. I know every time I eat a week of their food my gut and mood feel much better. It's so much easier to get a wide variety of fruits and vegetables from their plan and know all their meals are healthy.
Splendid Spoon deliveries come frozen in compostable packaging.
When will my Splendid Spoon orders arrive?
Orders placed Monday to Wednesday ship the next day. If you place orders from Thursday to Sunday, they will ship the following Monday.
Gut Health Ranking of Splendid Spoon Smoothies, Bowls, and Shots
Let's take a look at my week's worth of Splendid Spoon delivery! This week I had 5 delicious smoothies, 5 bowls, and 5 shots. I've added a review of the taste and my gut health ranking per item. I've highlighted ingredients that are especially helpful to the gut. Of course, just eating a variety of foods helps with the gut microbiome but prebiotic foods like kimchi and bananas have been known to be especially helpful for a healthy gut.
List of Splendid Spoon Gut Health Ingredients
This is a list of ingredients found in this round of food delivery that is especially healthy for the gut. Of course, Splendid Spoon has many more delicious dishes with good-for-your-gut ingredients like beans, bell peppers, lemongrass, and fennel. But the below list just includes what I consumed in my return to normal post-breakup Splendid Spoon delivery.
Ginger
Ginger has been known to be good for your gut in Asian countries for many centuries. You don't have to just believe in ancient traditions, the studies have shown ginger to increase good bacteria, decrease body weight, modulate gut microbiota composition, and lower inflammation. (2, 3)
Almonds
Almonds have been found to reduce depression by stimulating the growth of good bacteria. And studies have shown that almonds support colonic microbiota health by promoting the rich diverse increase of microflora. (4, 5)
Turmeric
Turmeric is also known as Curcumin is the spice responsible for giving that beautiful yellow color to your dishes. And it's been used as a traditional medicine in Ayurvedic medicine for over 6000 years. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and there are studies exploring its impact on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). (6, 7)
Banana
Bananas contain prebiotic properties contained in 60-80% of their indigestible carbohydrates. (8)
Pineapple
Sweet fruit pineapples are full of enzymes that help with your digestion.
Dragon Fruit
Unique-looking dragon fruits are packed with prebiotics.
Garlic
Garlic is a miracle food reducing blood pressure, and improves gut microbe with its richness and diversity (9, 10, 11)
Aloe
Slippery jello like aloe or aloe vera is effective for topical treatment for skin burns and cuts are also good for your gut. (12, 13)
Splendid Spoon Smoothies
Related Post: 4 Best Splendid Spoon Smoothies
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
Might have a better drink as soup? It’s yummy but when I think of pumpkin spice I think of something sweeter. I think it must be the clove and lack of dates or something that makes it a bit sweeter that makes me think I’m eating something like a meal rather than a smoothie. It also has a hint of sourness from the lemon that’s probably the reason too. I did warm it up to drink it as a soup too. I think the sourness is throwing the whole thing off though…
Ingredients: Organic Pumpkin, Organic Apple Juice, Purified Water, Almond Butter, Organic Pea Protein, Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Baobab, Organic Vanilla Powder, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice, Clove, Himalayan Salt, Turmeric.
Gut Health Rating: 5/10
Blue Majik Smoothie
Very thick and tangy. Really thick and filling. Felt like a protein shake. If I had more time I would have made a frozen blue Majik bar.
Ingredients: filtered water, banana, organic coconut cream, almond butter, organic date, organic protein blend (organic rice protein, organic pea protein), organic tocos powder (stabilized rice bran solubles), organic vanilla, ascorbic acid, organic cinnamon, organic sea buckthorn berry, blue spirulina, organic monk fruit
Gut Health Rating: 9/10
Mint Chip Smoothie
Refreshing and chunky. Love the chocolate chunks. It reminds me of the mint chocolate chip ice cream I make with bananas and sweet potato. I love that there are some chunky textures I feel like I can “eat” my smoothie. Very filling.
Ingredients: purified water, banana, almond butter, organic coconut nectar, organic cacao nibs, organic baobab powder, organic pea protein, organic Swiss chard juice, organic vanilla powder, organic spirulina, organic peppermint, Himalayan Salt
Gut Health Rating: 8/10
Dragon Fruit Berry Smoothie
It’s interesting, but not what I was expecting. Maybe it’s the pineapple that throws it off? I ran thinking I will get raspberries. I love that there is pea protein in it although only 4 grams of protein. Don’t taste the avocado at all. Nice texture with chia and raspberry seeds.
Smoothies feel pretty substantial. Maybe because of chia seed, avocado, and pea protein but it is pretty filling.
Ingredients: purified water, organic pineapple juice, organic dragon fruit, organic raspberries, avocado, organic pea protein, organic chia seeds, organic vanilla extract, Himalayan pink salt
Gut Health Rating: 5/10
Raspberry Cacao Smoothie
Initially, it tasted like the standard strawberry banana drink. But the more I drank it I got a tiny hint of rose and cashew. It’s thick but doesn’t have the crunch of cacao or nuts like a mint chip smoothie
Ingredients: purified water, bananas, organic raspberries, organic coconut nectar, cashew butter, organic pea protein, organic beet juice, organic rose water, organic vanilla extract, organic cacao, Himalayan salt
Gut Health Rating: 7/10
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Splendid Spoon Bowls
Roasted Brussels Sprout Bowl
The tangy lemony and the perfect combination of some veggies (squash and Brussels sprouts), crunch (walnuts), and sweet (dried berries). Definitely one of my favorites that I got 2 of them in this delivery.
Ingredients: Quinoa, Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, Apple Cider Vinegar, Walnuts, Currants, Lemon Juice, Mustard (distilled vinegar, water, mustard seed, salt, chardonnay wine, citric acid, tartaric acid, spices, turmeric), Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Salt, Black Pepper.
Gut Health Rating: 8/10
Kimchi Fried Quinoa Grain Bowl
Spicy as you’d expect from Kimchi. I love the tofu and soybean protein combo but not too many veggies in it so I ended up adding arugula and purple cabbage.
Ingredients: Quinoa, Kimchi (Napa cabbage, radish, water, red pepper powder, sea salt, onion, garlic, ginger, kelp powder), Edamame Soybeans, Water, Tofu (water, soybeans, calcium sulfate, calcium chloride), RightRice® (lentil flour, chickpea flour, pea fiber, rice flour, sunflower oil, sea salt), Onion, Tamari Soy Sauce (water, soybeans, salt, alcohol), Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sesame Seeds, Sesame Oil, Turmeric, Nutritional Yeast (dried yeast, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamin hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, cyanocobalamin), Salt
Gut Health Rating: 7/10
Vegetable Bolognese Bowl
Perfect texture with the mushroom. I know it’s healthy with quinoa and lots of veggies but it also seems like a comfort food like the spaghetti bolognese I used to eat growing up.
Ingredients: Tomatoes (Tomatoes, Tomato Juice, Salt, Basil), Water, Mushrooms, Quinoa, Wild Rice, Shiitake Mushroom, Onion, Organic Celery, Organic Carrots, Pumpkin Seeds, Tomato Paste, Lemon Juice, Hemp Seeds, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cashews, Garlic, Nutritional Yeast (Dried Yeast, Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Cyanocobalamin), Salt, Red Chili Pepper
Gut Health Rating: 8/10
Coconut Curry Rice Bowl
If you're craving something cheesy, no further. I absolutely loved this bowl! The coconut milk and cashew combination makes this yummy cheesy texture. Very filling and a great combination with kale and chickpeas.
If you aren’t into too much garlic or spice this might not be for you or you can add tofu or extra veggies to offset some strong taste. Now it’s not spicy, it tasted a bit more pungent or astringent than what I have normally. Still delicious but lets those people know who might prefer more traditional tastes.
Ingredients: organic brown rice, organic kale, chickpeas, coconut milk (coconut, water), water, yellow onion, cashews, ginger, garlic, white vinegar, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt, turmeric, curry powder, red chili pepper, black pepper
Gut Health Rating: 9/10
Splendid Spoon Nutrient Shots
Immunity Shot
Ingredients: Organic Orange Juice, Organic Blackberry Puree, Organic Lemon Juice, Elderberry Powder, Organic Camu Camu Powder, Organic Cayenne Pepper.
Recovery Shot
Spicy with ginger it is a good boost. The shot size is nice, it's not too small.
Ingredients: Watermelon Juice, Cherry Juice, Beet Juice, Lemon Juice, Ginger Juice
Gut Health Rating: 7/10
Detox Shot
Sour and tangy. Good for the morning to wake me up.
Ingredients: apple juice, lemon juice, aloe juice, kale juice, moringa, spirulina
Gut Health Rating: 4/10
Digestion Shot
Very astringent and spicy. You are hit with the intensity of the ginger and cayenne pepper right away. I guess that is why these are called shots, not juice or smoothie. My throat felt like I took a shot of pure vodka. It was really strong. Definitely good for digestion. The impact is 100%
Ingredients: apple juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger juice, turmeric, cayenne pepper
Gut Health Rating: 7/10
Wellness Shot
My favorite shot in terms of taste. It’s definitely spicy and bitter but not as strong as the Digestive Shot.
Ingredients: organic orange juice, organic lemon juice, organic ginger juice, organic oregano extract (dried oregano leaf, vegetable glycerin, water), Himalayan sea salt
Gut Health Rating: 8/10
FAQs
Is Splendid Spoon a subscription?
Splendid Spoon offers subscription AND subscription-free plant-based meal delivery. I know there are commitment-phobes out there. For those who don't want to get into a regular subscription-based meal delivery service, you can order an on-demand box that is subscription free. You get 2-day shipping (they do charge shipping fees) on all orders and can choose from different bundles like getting only your favorite smoothies, wellness shots, or mix-and-matching bowls and smoothies. This might be a good way to try out Splendid Spoon if you don't want to subscribe to weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly delivery. You can see the subscription-free Splendid Spoon meal bundles here.
How long is a splendid spoon good for?
The smoothies should be stored in the refrigerator and drank before the “good before” date written on the container (which should be about a week). You can also keep the smoothies in the freezer for 1 month. The wellness shots and cold-pressed juices should be stored in the fridge and drank before the “enjoy by” date on the container. The bowls, noodles, and soups should be consumed 7 days after you receive the delivery or you can freeze it for 1-3 months. All the food delivered from Splendid Spoon does not contain any fillers or preservatives. Although in my house it usually will get eaten a lot sooner if there is a Splendid Spoon Kimchi Fried Quinoa bowl that's left in the freezer!
Is Splendid Spoon organic?
On their website, it says they use fresh and healthy ingridients and 95% of the smoothies and wellness shots are organic and 100% GMO-free. And the ingredients from the bowls and noodles are not all organic but they prioritize sourcing organic ingredients for those ingredients that fall into the Dirty Dozen. For example, none of the ingredients are organic in the Roasted Brussels Sprout Grain Bowl because none of the ingredients falls in the Dirty Dozen but carrots and kale are organic in the Lentil & Kale Soup. I can say though the bowls definitely are delicious and were using fresh good quality produce.
How does Splendid Spoon compare to other plant-based meal delivery services?
Interested in finding out how Splendid Spoon fares against Thistle? or against Daily Harvest? We have all the comparisons against other vegan meal delivery services here:
Our Take on Splendid Spoon Gut Health Benefits
So is Splendid Spoon good for the gut? We have to give a strong Yes! Studies have shown eating a plant-based diet high in fiber has shown to aid weight loss, prevents and manages chronic illness, lower body fat, and better cardiovascular health. (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) Splendid Spoon is already plant-based but it also has a few prebiotic and other gut health-improving ingredients in each smoothie, wellness shot, and bowl.
I feel much more relaxed and better post-breakup after eating Splendid Spoon meals. Research has shown you can reset the gut in 2 to 4 days (2a) so I think my gut is back to the healthier version! If you'd also like to reset your gut regardless of whether you are going through a breakup click the button below and get $120 Off Your First 4 Deliveries!
